Austrian M 1915 Pioneers short sword by Resicka Company - Vienna.

Austrian M 1915 Pioneer short sword. Excellent- very heavy crudely made bright finished straight plain blade with a short false edge. Austrian makers trademark: Large R on the ricasso ( = Resicka Company- Vienna) and a crisp Austrian Crest on the reverse. Very good wooden grips secured to the blade tang by 3 steel rivets. Bright finished steel S-shaped crossguard. 
Very good and correct wartime WWI Feld Grau painted steel scabbard with small indentations and some pitting only. 

This crudely made sturdy impressive ersatz short sword was used by Austrian pioneers, engineers and sappers. It was introduced short after the outbreak of WWI

Total length: 54 cm. Width at the ricasso: 4,1 cm.